To show off the fact that she was a man, Hua Manman even tilted her head up, revealing her surprisingly realistic Adam’s apple.
Li Xun stared at her blankly, a look of utter confusion on his small face.
He was still too young to have a clear concept of gender and didn’t yet understand the significance of an Adam’s apple.
Hua Manman pointed at the Regent King, who was seated at the head of the table.
"Look at your father. He has an Adam’s apple, too."
Hua Manman then pointed to a maid standing nearby.
"Now look at her. She doesn’t have an Adam’s apple.
Only men have Adam’s apples, and women don’t. So I’m a man, understand?"
Li Xun touched his own throat. "But I don’t have an Adam’s apple either."
Hua Manman explained patiently.
"That’s because you’re still young. Your Adam’s apple hasn’t grown in yet. When you’re older, you’ll have one too."
Li Xun thought about it for a moment, then said with great earnestness,
"Even if you have an Adam’s apple, you’re still my mommy."
Hua Manman felt the air catch in her throat; she nearly choked.
’So everything I said was completely pointless!’
She had no choice but to look at the Regent King at the head of the table again, hoping he would finally say something.
But Li Ji just smiled casually. "Children speak without filters. I hope the Princely Heir will forgive him."
Hua Manman fumed.
’I’m sure of it,’ she thought. ’This bastard is playing dumb on purpose!’
’He knows his son has the wrong person, yet he refuses to clarify. He clearly just wants to see me make a fool of myself.’
The more Hua Manman thought about it, the angrier she became.
She decided to channel her frustration into her appetite and began to eat with abandon.
Li Xun stretched out his little arms to put some food in her bowl.
"This meat is delicious, Mommy. Have a taste."
His constant cries of "Mommy" were giving Hua Manman a headache.
But no matter how she explained, the little tyke refused to call her anything else.
’This father and son, the big one and the little one, are both incredibly hard to deal with.’
After quickly finishing the meal, Hua Manman didn’t dare stay a moment longer.
She stood up to take her leave.
Li Xun hurriedly clutched her sleeve, pleading pitifully.
"Mommy, don’t go."
Hua Manman tugged a couple of times.
The boy’s grip was surprisingly strong; she couldn’t pull her sleeve free.
She said helplessly, "I’m really not your mother, and this isn’t my home.
It’s getting late now, so I have to go back.
If you want to see your mother, go tell your father. Have him take you to find her, okay?"
Li Xun shook his head vigorously. "No! I don’t want my royal father, I just want Mommy! Please, I’m begging you, don’t go."
He had only just found his mommy after so long; he refused to be separated from her again, no matter what.
Since reasoning wasn’t working, Hua Manman had to change her approach.
"I’m just leaving for a little while. We’ll see each other again very soon."
She shouldn’t have said that. Her words immediately triggered a painful memory for Li Xun.
He burst into tears all over again.
"SOB, SOB... You told me before that you’d be back soon.
But we waited for you for so long, and you never came back.
You lied to me! Don’t go!"
Although Hua Manman didn’t know what had happened in the Regent King’s household, she could tell from the boy’s reaction that his mother must have left a long time ago and had never returned.
That explained why the boy was so tense. The moment he saw someone who resembled his mother, he became extremely agitated, terrified of letting her get away again.
Hua Manman’s heart went out to him. She bent down and gave him a hug.
"I’m not lying to you. I live right next door, separated from your home by just a single wall. If you want to see me, you can come find me anytime."
Li Xun looked at her, half-convinced and half-doubting, and asked with tears in his eyes, "Really?"
Hua Manman took his little hand. "If you don’t believe me, you can come with me and see for yourself."
Li Xun immediately nodded and agreed.
’As long as I know where Mommy lives, I’ll never have to worry about not being able to find her again.’
Hua Manman looked up at the Regent King.
"May I take your esteemed son next door for a look?"
Li Ji felt a sour knot in his stomach.
’This woman is so much gentler with Gou Dan than she is with me.’
He replied expressionlessly.
"Go ahead."
Li Xun joyfully followed his mommy out.
Everyone had left, leaving Li Ji, the old father, alone in an empty nest.
He picked up the red peony.
His fingertips pinched the stem, twirling it gently.
The red petals spun in turn.
Remembering the way Hua Manman looked when she had given him the flower, the corners of Li Ji’s lips curled up, and his mood brightened a little.
’In any case, she’s back now.’
’As long as she’s back, everything else can be sorted out.’
...
Jiao Gui never would have imagined that her Young Master would go out for a meal and come back with a five-year-old son.
She was so shocked she froze on the spot, unable to process what she was seeing for a long time.
Hua Manman explained helplessly.
"I’ve already said it many times. He’s really not my son."
Li Xun, who had been quietly observing his mommy’s living quarters, immediately teared up upon hearing this and said in a pitiful, wronged voice,
"Mommy, please don’t cast me aside."
Putting all else aside, Li Xun was undeniably adorable. His small face was fair and tender, his pupils were as dark and clear as lacquer, and his eyelashes were long and curled. He looked like a divine child attendant from an Immortal’s palace, sculpted from ice and jade.
Now, with his eyes welling up, on the verge of tears, he looked utterly pitiful.
Jiao Gui’s heart instantly melted.
She shot her Young Master a condemning look, as if she were staring at the world’s biggest scumbag, a man who would abandon his own wife and child.
Hua Manman: "..."
’I’m not! I didn’t!’
Jiao Gui took out some fruits and pastries, placed them in front of Li Xun, and coaxed him gently.
"Eat whatever you like. Don’t be shy."
Li Xun turned his head to look at his mommy.
His small, expectant face showed that he was clearly waiting for his mommy’s answer.
Hua Manman rubbed her temples, her head aching.
"Eat if you want to."
After getting his mommy’s permission, Li Xun finally reached out a small hand, picked up a sesame crisp, and said sweetly,
"Thank you, Sister."
Jiao Gui was instantly charmed, her heart blossoming with joy. "Such a good boy."
Li Xun took a bite of the sesame crisp and found it fragrant and sweet. He then picked up another one and placed it in his mommy’s hand.
"Mommy should have one, too."
Jiao Gui clutched her chest. "He’s just too precious! How can there be such a well-behaved child in this world?!"
Hua Manman looked at the sesame crisp in her palm, feeling both helpless and full of affection for the boy.
The child was indeed very good.
She even felt a little wistful. ’If he were really my child, how wonderful that would be. I would definitely keep him by my side every day and shower him with love and affection.’
Seeing that it was about time, Hua Manman prepared to have someone send Li Xun home.
The moment he heard he had to leave his mommy, Li Xun immediately became agitated.
He clung to his mommy’s leg for dear life, refusing to let go as large teardrops rolled down his cheeks one after another.
"I’m not going! I don’t want to be separated from Mommy!"
"But this isn’t your home," Hua Manman said helplessly. "Your home is next door."
"Wherever Mommy is, that’s where my home is!" Li Xun cried. "I want to live with Mommy!"
Hua Manman asked, "Then what about your royal father?"
Li Xun sniffled, as if only now remembering he still had an old father at home.
He pouted and said reluctantly,
"Then he can just move over and live with us, too."